Nicola Bulley's family forced to wait DAYS to learn if body found in river is missing mum as partner opens up on 'agony'

A body was spotted by two dogs water just a mile away from where Nicola Bulley was last seen
A body was spotted by two dogs water just a mile away from where Nicola Bulley was last seen
PA
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 20/02/2023

- 10:35

Updated: 20/02/2023

- 14:27

The family of Nicola Bulley are bracing for the ‘worst possible news’ following the discovery of a body

Nicola Bulley's partner has described his heartbreak after a body was pulled from the River Wyre - but the missing mum's family could be forced to wait days before finding out if it is her.

Paul Ansell said there are “no words right now, just agony” after a body was spotted by two dog walkers a mile away from where the 45-year-old was last seen.

Messages of hope attached to a nearby bridge were removed over the course of Sunday evening and replaced with flowers.

Lancashire Constabulary said it was unable to confirm whether the body was that of missing Nicola and her family could be waiting several days for formal identification.

Police officers walk past flowers and yellow ribbons tied to a bridge for Nicola Bulley over the River Wyre in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, where police recovered a body on Sunday, which was found by members of the public close to where Nicola Bulley disappeared on January 27. Ms Bulley, 45, was last seen walking her dog nearby, on a footpath along the River Wyre, after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. Picture date: Monday February 20, 2023.
Messages of hope were replaced by flowers following the discovery of a body in the water
Owen Humphreys

A spokesman said: "We are currently treating the death as unexplained.

"Nicola's family have been informed of developments and our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times. We ask that their privacy is respected."

It is expected that her partner Paul or another close relative will now identify the body.

Speaking on GB News Hamish Brown, a retired Scotland Yard detective inspector said: "The identification process isn't pleasant for anyone.

“I'm afraid it's just another line of unpleasant torture for the family, but something nevertheless that must be done."

Brown explained that it "depends on the condition of the body" whether it can be identified "visually".

Officers will look for other things such as clothing, personal items and jewellery as well as DNA.

Last night Paul and his daughters Harriet and Sophia, aged nine and six respectively, were being supported by police officers.

Extensive searches of the River Wyre were carried out as part of the investigation as police worked on the hypothesis that Nicola had fallen into the river.

The location on the River Wyre near St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire, where police recovered a body on Sunday, which was found by members of the public close to where Nicola Bulley disappeared on January 27. Ms Bulley, 45, was last seen walking her dog nearby, on a footpath along the River Wyre, after dropping her daughters, aged six and nine, at school. Picture date: Monday February 20, 2023.
A body was found in a section of the River Wyre by two do walkers
Owen Humphreys

The mortgage adviser vanished on January 27 after dropping her daughters off at school.

A huge police response was launched on Sunday as police attended the scene where a couple were pictured pointing to the water.

Officers sealed off a nearby road and part of the river was cordoned while divers entered the water.

Senior investigating officer Det Supt Rebecca Smith arrived and the road was reopened more than four hours after the discovery.

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